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- Mausoleum of Galla Placidia
The Mausoleum of Galla Placidia was built between 425 and 450. Galla Placidia was the daughter of the Roman emperor Theodosius I. - Mausoleum of Galla Placidia
The mosaics in the mausoleum are from the year 450. Let that sink in. The year 450. - Mausoleum of Galla Placidia
Above the entrance, there is the mosaic of the Good Shepherd. - Mausoleum of Galla Placidia
My favourite part of the ceiling. So intense. Unfortunately, the illumination of the whole mausoleum was almost nonexistent... - Mausoleum of Galla Placidia
The decoration in the dome: starry ceiling and the symbols of the Evangelists. Underneath are the apostles. - Mausoleum of Galla Placidia
Each side has two apostles and a pair of doves. - Mausoleum of Galla Placidia
Either Saint Lawrence or Saint Vincent. And come fantastic decorative mosaics. - Mausoleum of Galla Placidia
Deer drinking water. At first I thought they were eating watermelons :-) And then there are two more apostles around the chi-rho-alpha-omega sign. - Mausoleum of Galla Placidia
What an insanely beautiful piece of work! - Mausoleum of Galla Placidia
Plenty of sarcophagi around here. - Basilica of San Vitale
The construction started in 526 on the orders of Bishop Ecclesius of Ravenna. Bishop Maximian completed the construction in 547. The building is octagonal, with the entrances next to the altar. So... strange. - Basilica of San Vitale
The mosaics here are just insanely beautiful. - Basilica of San Vitale
What a difference between the two sides! Separated by the great arch, decorated with fifteen mosaic medallions: Jesus Christ in the centre, the twelve Apostles and Saint Gervasius and Saint Protasius, the sons of Saint Vitale. - Basilica of San Vitale
The richness of the mosaic work in crazy. Down to the tiniest details! - Basilica of San Vitale
A young Christ, two angles, St Vitalis on the left and bishop Ecclesius on the right. The bishop offers the church to the Christ, while St Vitalis, covering his hands with a veil, receives the crown of martyrdom. Christ holds a scroll closed with the seven seals of the Apocalypse. - Basilica of San Vitale
The mosaic depicting Emperor Justinian, who ruled the Roman Empire between 527 and 565, and his court. On the right side are the bishop Maximian, a deacon with the Bible, and a subdeacon with a thurible. On the left are probably generals Belisarius and Narses, and some soldiers. Justinian wears red and purple shoes, which only emperors were allowed to wear. And he stands on someone's foot :-) - Basilica of San Vitale
Probably the most famous mosaic in the church: Empress Theodora, the wife of Justinian I, holding the Eucharistic vessel. On the right might be Antonina, Belisarius’ wife, and other unnamed women, on the left is a court official and an eunuch. The detailing on the dresses (including the Tree Magi!) is insane. - Basilica of San Vitale
The apostles, decorated with fish! Fish! - Basilica of San Vitale
More apostles. And more fish :-) - Basilica of San Vitale
Part of the Sanctuary. - Basilica of San Vitale
The Lamb of God, supported by four angels standing on blue globes. And plenty of animals, my favourite being peacocks. - Basilica of San Vitale
Under the arch: Abraham and Sarah feeding the three strangers at Mambre and the Sacrifice of Isaac, with God's hand stopping Abraham from killing Isaac. Over the arch: the prophet Jeremiah, two angels holding a shield, Moses receiving the Law on Mt Sinai. - DSC 4622
Abel sacrificing a lamb to God, and the King of Salem, Melchizedek, offering a loaf of bread. And another God's hand coming from the blue and pink clouds. Heh, Abel has a cottage and Melchizedek a palace. - Basilica of San Vitale
- Sant’Apollinare Nuovo
The church was erected by the Ostrogothic king Theodoric as his palace chapel in early 6th century. Reconsecrated in 561 by Justinian I, suppressing the Arian church. - Sant’Apollinare Nuovo
Top row is the life of Jesus, middle row the saints, prophets and evangelists, bottom row are the famous processions. Apparently Pope Gregory ordered the mosaics to be blackened, not to distract the worshipers. - Sant’Apollinare Nuovo
Christ on the throne with four angels. Unfortunately not all is original, Christ's right side and the two right angels are 19th century reconstructions. - Sant’Apollinare Nuovo
A procession of 26 martyrs, including Saint Apollinaris, led by Saint Martin of Tours. Following are Pope Clements, Pope Sixtus, Saint Laurentius (in gold), Saint Hippolitus, Pope Cornelius (who is pointing towards), Saint Cyprian ... - Sant’Apollinare Nuovo
... Saints Iohannes, his brother Paulus, Vitalis (the basilica Vitalis), Gervasius, Protasius, Ursicinus, Namor, Felix ... - Sant’Apollinare Nuovo
... Saints Vincentius, Pancratius, Chrysogonus, Protus ... And these are not all of them. - Sant’Apollinare Nuovo
Madonna and Child surrounded by four angels. Plenty of roses and lilies everywhere and the typical gold Byzantine background. - Sant’Apollinare Nuovo
Walking towards the Madonna is a procession of 22 virgins, led by the Three Magi. These are Saints Caecilia, Eulalia, Agnes (with a lamb), Agatha. - Sant’Apollinare Nuovo
The Three Magi, Balthasar, Melchior and Caspar. They carry the gifts (gold, frankincense and myrrh) and walk towards the Bethlehem star. - Sant’Apollinare Nuovo
I love their fashion sense. They all wear Phrygian caps and - quite unusually -fancy trousers. - Sant’Apollinare Nuovo
Let's go: bottom line: Saints Valeria, Crispina, Lucia, Caecilia, Eulalia, Agnes, Agatha, Pelagia and Euphemia. middle: unnamed saints, prophets, evangelists... carrying scrolls or codices. top: the woman at the well, the woman with the flow of blood, Jesus cures the blind, (partial) the calling of Peter and Andrew. - Sant’Apollinare Nuovo
Bottom: Theoderic's palace and the town of Ravenna (PALATIVM and CIVITAS RAVENN). Middle: more unnamed prophets and evangelists. Top: the way of the cross, Resurrection: the women at the tomb, The road to Emmaus, Jesus appearing to the apostles. - Sant’Apollinare Nuovo
6th century censorship. When the church became Orthodox, they 'erased' the Arians/Goths from the images, leaving only their praying hands. One can still see their halos above the curtains. - Sant’Apollinare Nuovo
The town of Classe (only partially original). Middle: unknown prophets and evangelists. Top: The paralytic at Bethany, The Gerasene Demoniac, The paralytic at Capernaum, The Sheep and the Goats This side shows a much younger beardless Jesus. - Sant’Apollinare Nuovo
The merchant vessels of Classe, which used to be a port that time. - Sant’Apollinare Nuovo
Saint Calocerus (Calogero!), died in 130, a martyr from the times of Hadrian. Apparently remembered on February 11th. - Sant’Apollinare Nuovo
The ceiling. - Sant’Apollinare Nuovo
The cylindrical campanile dates to the 9th-10th century.